Every week, Supercharged tackles a complex—and sometimes unusual—question about technology, science, psychology, and human existence to find out how we can approach life better in our rapidly changing world.

163: Wandering Ben and a Case of Distrust

Tommy and Adam speak with game developer Ben Wander, creator of the unique and interesting noir narrative game A Case of Distrust. Questions/comments? Call/text 509-AWKWARD or visit awkward.email for options. :)

The Wandering BenMy name is Ben Wander. I’ve worked professionally in games since 2009, and I founded The Wandering Ben in 2015. I create narrative adventures in settings less-explored by large studios, focusing on individuals rather than world-saving.

A Case of Distrust (Steam)PC Malone grabbed her freshly rolled cigarette, stuck it in her mouth, and lit it. She exhaled blue smoke. Looking through the plumes, she spotted the stack of papers near her desk — all old cases from the force that she’d quit long ago. She began to wonder about her future as a private investigator. Whether the modern world would ever give her more than thankless adultery cases. Emancipation still had a long way to go. More smoke filled her lungs and she sighed another cloud. “Is this life worth what I’ve given up?”, she wondered. “Maybe I should help Green…”

A Case of Distrust (Official Site)A Case of Distrust is a narrative mystery from 1924 San Francisco. Play as private investigator Phyllis Cadence Malone in this historical 2D adventure game. Explore underground speakeasies, smoke-filled billiard halls, classic barber shops, and more. Catch suspects in lies by using evidence, statements, and your wits. Intrinsic challenges face our heroine, as she struggles against a pushback on emancipation, leading to many doubts, both internal and external. Uncover the truth in a mystery full of deception!

Silicon KnightsWikipedia: "Silicon Knights was a Canadian video game developer. Founded in 1992 by Denis Dyack, the company was headquartered in St. Catharines, Ontario. In 2012, following the loss of a court case against Epic Games, Dyack left Silicon Knights to form a new game studio, Precursor Games. The case then led Silicon Knights to multiple lawsuits and eventually to bankruptcy on May 16, 2014."

L.A. Noire"Amid the post-war boom of Hollywood's Golden Age, Cole Phelps is an LAPD detective thrown headfirst into a city drowning in its own success. Corruption is rampant, the drug trade is exploding, and murder rates are at an all-time high. In his fight to climb the ranks and do what's right, Phelps must unravel the truth behind a string of arson attacks, racketeering conspiracies and brutal murders, battling the L.A. underworld and even members of his own department to uncover a secret that could shake the city to its rotten core."